Melksham United Church

Methodist/United Reformed

Welcome to the web page for Melksham United Church. The United Reformed Church and the Melksham Methodist Church combined some 26 years ago as along with all the other churches in the Mid-Wilts United Area.  See details on the Home Page.    We are located in Melksham High Street in the centre of the town opposite Lloyds Bank and adjacent to the King's Arms.  There is parking behind the church, accessed through an archway, 20 metres to the left of the church.

The United Church building  was originally built as a Methodist church in 1872 and has an impressive frontage with giant Corinthian columns beneath a large pediment – and with Italiante decorations carved round the door.   The building is Grade II listed.  When the two denominations united the Methodist buildings were retained and the URC building sold, becoming the Rachel Fowler Community Centre.

A recent survey of the building revealed that substantial work is required to restore the roof and this was completed in July 2005, at a cost in excess of £22,000.  This was a very significant expenditure for the Church and  required some robust fund-raising.

Nigeria Health Care Project -  visit their web site;   www.nhcp.org.uk 

Melksham Family of Churches  can be found at   www.mfoc.org.uk

Melksham Queensway Chapel is at      www.queenswaychapel.co.uk   

Sunday Services are at 10.30 am every week

Harvest Lunch was held on Sunday 12th September.  Click HERE for pictures

(The following was released to the local press - July 2008)

The planned refurbishment of Melksham United Church

The United Church in the High Street was built over 130 years ago.  Although there have been some changes over the years, much of the building is original, and the time has come to have some improvements done.  

It has been decided that we really need to refurbish the church, so we are hoping we shall be able to raise enough money to carry the scheme through.  One of the reasons we are doing this, is that we hope that it will be of benefit to the community.  

The windows need replacing, and have to be replaced like with like as the building is Grade 2 listed.  Then the heating needs to be renewed.  In order to make it suitable for different uses, we shall remove the pews and replace them with chairs, so that they can be arranged to suit the event.  To do this, we shall need to have the floor replaced and covered with new carpet.

It is hoped that we shall be able to improve access to the gallery room above the church.  We also hope to make the Upper Hall at the rear of the premises more easily accessible.

In addition to these major items, the whole of the interior of the building needs to be decorated, and we hope to improve the kitchens as well.

Obviously to do all this work is going to cost an enormous amount of money, and as a church we are hoping to be able to raise £100, 000 over the next three years.  To this end there will be all sorts of events taking place, so please watch the forthcoming events columns in the Melksham News, and support us whenever you can.  Remember we want our building to be a real Community resource.         Kath Loram       

 * * * * 

PROGRAMME OF FUND-RAISING EVENTS

 FOR CHURCH REFURBISHMENT

There will also be a concert by Nigel Ogden on 5th June 2009 in aid of Missions

A group sponsored walk was held on Saturday, 20th September along the Kennet & Avon canal to raise funds for the Melksham Church refurbishment.

The following are some of the pictures taken at the event!

The Organ deserves a page in its own right. Click on the picture on the left.

Regular Church Meetings

Church Congregational Meetings take place twice a year and Church Council Meetings take place four times per year.

back  to return to "The Churches" page  OR press back arrow key on your keyboard.